Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!dali!ogicse!emory!mephisto!prism!gt4662b
From: gt4662b@prism.gatech.EDU (BRANHAM,JOSEPH FRANKLIN)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Video Toaster Info-real and current
Message-ID: <7794@hydra.gatech.EDU>
Date: 9 Apr 90 13:42:52 GMT
References: <7668@hydra.gatech.EDU> <28725@cup.portal.com>
Distribution: na
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology
Lines: 59

In article <28725@cup.portal.com>, Sullivan@cup.portal.com (sullivan - segall) writes:
> >2) It requires a timecode-base VCR or camera. ( I think that is the right word)
> >
> 
> Forgive my ignorance, but what is a timecode-base VCR?  Does it need a Genlock
> input?  With all that the Toaster reportedly includes, I would be surprised
> if they didn't include an infinite window time base corrector.  (Isn't that
> what a frame buffer does, and doesn't the Toaster have TWO of them?)  Anyway,
> I've never heard of a VHS recorder that has Genlock inputs.  On input they 
> generally just synch up to the signal source (so that no buffering is required.)
	The NewTek chap who was there told us that the Toaster DID require a 
Genlock input VCR or camera, and that there were a few Japanese companies which
were releasing some VCR's in the $1000 range. 

> The number has varied somewhat, (256 effects was the last that I'd heard),
> but what do they consider separate effects?  Is a wipe left different from 
> a wipe right?  Or is direction just a parameter of the generic wipe effect?
> Is a fast wipe a different effect than a slow wipe?  I'd really like to know
> how they classify "384" separate effects.
>
	Given tendancies in advertising, I'd guess that direction and speed are
different parameters of effects. The effects I did see demonstrated (now note 
my ignorence in this field) included being able to leave 'trails' behind a 
moving image, changing the colors of all or parts of the image, assorted wipes,
fades, and dissolves, and superimposing parts of two or more inputs with 
different effects on each. 
> 
> have to be added to other machines to support it (not the DOS so much as the
> programs that run under it) I don't think it ever will be ported.  (Paint me
> blue and throw me into the ocean if I'm wrong.)  I *WILL* be unhappy if the 
> NEWTEKDOS in any way limits my ability to use AmigaDOS at the same time, or
> to multitask, or read standard format floppies, or FFS harddrives, or use any
> hardware I might have connected to my machine (VoRecOne, Modem, Bridgeboard,
> who knows what else...).  
> 
	The idea I got from the presentation is that, while you are using
the Toaster, you WILL NOT be able to multitask, or do much else than run the
effects software. One thing which was not made clear is whether or not the
Toaster will 'do' its 24 bit output while in AmigaDos and not have to save
frames and animations to a file, then boot into Toaster mode to show them.
If they don't, the Toaster may die a slow death.

	Another reason for the Toaster only working on an Amiga is that it
spits out NTSC-compatible video. No higher scan rates or anything. The idea
seems to have been to push this to broadcasters as well as people who need to
use the video effects and character generators. As a method of improving your
graphics output, it might be very annoying to work with.
 

Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with New-Tek and guess that I just placed myself
in a wonderful seat in this discussion.



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<  FRANK BRANHAM                      | "I exist; therefore I am."             >
<  Georgia Institute of Technology    |       -The Patchwork Quilt             >
<  Internet: gt4662b@prism.gatech.edu |   	by August Derleth              >